ice cream franchise - Marble Slab Creamery

HOW TO MAKE YOUR
ICE CREAM FRANCHISE
Prepared by:
Even if your fast food franchise is booming, there are always steps you can
take to make it even better. This is why it’s key for business owners to stay
smart, savvy, and informed throughout their entire franchising journey. The
franchise owners who are always trying to improve are the ones who beat
out their competition and have a thriving business.
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MARBLE SLAB CREAMERY
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How do you continuously improve your franchise so business is always
booming? Look no further! This guide provides you with everything you
need to know to make your business even better today and to always keep
improving in the future.
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How to Have Success in the
Competitive Ice Cream Industry
When you’re looking to improve your franchise, one of the most important
considerations to think about is your competition. For example, the landscape of
the ice cream industry has been changing with the introduction of concepts such as
self-serve frozen yogurt and the rise of gourmet mix-in toppings.
Marble Slab Creamery is one of the original high-quality mix-to-order ice cream
shops, but franchisees must beware of becoming too comfortable in this highly
competitive industry. To be successful, ice cream franchisees must find a right mix
that helps adults re-live their childhood ice cream shop visits all while providing
children and teenagers with the newest trendy offerings. So how do you find this
balance and stay ahead of your competition?
FRIENDLINESS IS FUNDAMENTAL
When customers go out for ice cream, it is a treat and an indulgence. Customers
may be looking to perk up after a hard day or celebrate after a great day.
Whatever the motivation for stopping in, customers are looking to acquire a little
bit of joy in the form of a tasty treat and a pleasant experience. The attitude of
employees and staff at an ice cream shop has a profound impact on the
customer perception of the entire experience.
BOND WITH THE CUSTOMER
Ice cream shops attract children and families more than any other
audience. To strengthen the bond with these target customers, ice cream
shops can offer children’s activities while in the store and make it an
enticing place to visit. In keeping with friendliness, employees should
routinely be encouraged to go above and beyond to create a bond with
customers and find out how to make their visit even better.
BRAND VISIBILITY AND FAMILIARITY
Since children form a large part of an ice cream franchise’s customer
base, promoting the brand takes a little more creativity than with other
target customers. Ice cream franchises can help familiarize children with
the brand by cooperating with local schools and sponsoring children’s
activities in the area. To be successful, ice cream franchisees should
also be sure to engage in internet marketing efforts that give parents
an incentive to take their children to Marble Slab Creamery instead of
another local ice cream shop.
RISE ABOVE THE COMPETITION
Ice cream franchises are widespread so every franchisee will have to
contend with local competition. To be successful, franchisees must
understand the competition. Discreetly visiting local competitors is a great
way to find out what a store is up against and what the competition may
be doing better. Customers will often voice their opinions about what
they like or dislike so franchisees can keep an ear out and utilize these
proclamations to learn about trends. Visiting a few local ice cream stores
every month will help franchisees stay attuned to business flow and
preferences in the area.
MARBLE SLAB CREAMERY
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7 Tips for Making a Good Fast
Food Franchise Even Better
OnceNow that you’ve remembered why you got into the hot dog business,
the next step is to evaluate the franchise itself. Where can you improve your
business? Are you out of touch with the current trends? Have you deviated from
your business model? Do you really know what’s going on with your customers
and even your employees? If you don’t know the answer to all of these questions,
below are 7 tips to help you make your franchise better today.
4. ASK FOR HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT
1. DO YOUR RESEARCH
Some of the most successful businesses are successful because they’ve
done such a good job at marketing. Advertising, marketing, and word-ofmouth are all very powerful tools for building brand and store recognition
for your fast food franchise.
Before you buy a fast food franchise, make sure you know everything you
need to know, including how much money you’ll need to start and run it,
which systems you’ll need to follow based on franchisor requirements, and
how to keep your business thriving.
2. UNDERSTAND CURRENT TRENDS
What’s cool in your fast food franchise industry? Did your competitor come out
with a new ice cream flavor that’s selling like hotcakes? As you encounter the
daily tasks needed to run your business, always keep an ear on the ground to
keep up with competitors, customers, and the overall business landscape.
3. STICK TO YOUR BUSINESS PLAN
The business plan is there for a reason so stick to it! Make sure you’ve set
realistic goals. Check back periodically to make sure you’ve met your goals or
that you’re on track to meet them.
MARBLE SLAB CREAMERY
One of the benefits of a fast food franchise is that the company already
has a business model that works. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask
for help when you find yourself confused or unsure of the best course of
action to take.
5. GET THE WORD OUT
6. START SMALL
If you’re inexperienced in the fast food franchise industry, avoid jumping
the gun by purchasing several stores at once unless you feel confident
that you’re prepared and well-versed. Starting with one store can be a
good way to make sure you’re all set and ready for more.
7. LISTEN TO YOUR EMPLOYEES
After your customers, your employees are the lifeblood of your business.
Listen to their questions, comments, concerns, and even their whining.
Happy employees are better employees and good employees help keep
businesses in tip-top shape.
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Latest Trends in
Ice Cream Franchising
Each of the tips listed above is a valuable way you can improve your business.
However, understanding current trends is vital to ensuring that your franchise
lasts over time. Being able to adapt to new trends allows you to keep your
franchise relevant and fresh.
always procured from local farms. These core business concepts
give Marble Slab Creamery an advantage in the brave new world of
food franchises.
For example, the coolest treat available is now causing a flurry in the franchise
world. Surviving and thriving through economic shifts, ice cream franchises
offer customers a sense of familiarity and comfort that can help make a bad
day good or a good day better. Ice cream evokes nostalgia in most adults
and a trip to the ice cream shop is enough to brighten any child’s day. With
competition on every corner, franchisees must stay cool when it comes to
current trends in order to keep the business hot.
The majority of Marble Slab Creamery customers are children, people with
children, or people with grandchildren. Notice a trend? To reach this young
customer base, it is important to market where these customers spend
a majority of their time-on the internet. By staying hip on social media
and making an effort to put the Marble Slab Creamery name in front of
customers’ eyes on a regular basis, franchises instill brand familiarity. This
can mean the difference between “Let’s go for ice cream!” and “Let’s go
to Marble Slab Creamery!”
INNOVATION FASCINATION
It is not enough to offer the same old ice cream flavors and toppings.
Customers want a large variety of flavors and mix-ins, but they also want to
eat their ice cream in new and fun ways. Marble Slab Creamery offers chilly
new treats such as ice cream cupcakes and Slabwiches to delight customers
while staying true to the core product-high quality ice cream. Marble Slab
Creamery also infuses innovation into base products by offering ice cream
and mix-ins in the newest and most popular flavors and cakes that can be
customized with all of the hottest trending characters.
OBSESSED WITH FRESH
A desire for fresh preparation and utilization of local resources is sweeping the
nation and affecting the way business is done in almost every type of food
franchise. However, fresh preparation is the cornerstone of the Marble Slab
Creamery way. The dairy that is used to make all of the fresh products is also
MARBLE SLAB CREAMERY
ONLINE IS IN
SWEET TREATS
While ice cream is a delicious indulgent treat in itself, customers feel even
better about getting their sweet treats from a company that spreads the
sweetness around. Marble Slab Creamery gives back to ice cream’s biggest
fans by providing fundraiser opportunities and celebrity scoop nights for
local schools and organizations. Marble Slab Creamery also gives customers
some sugar with the Slab Happy rewards program. The Slab Happy
rewards program shows
customers that they are
appreciated by offering
special promotions
and giving them a
free ice cream on
their birthday.
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Now you know how to stay smart, savvy, and informed throughout your entire franchising journey. You
know how to outshine your competition, improve your franchise internally, and capitalize on trends in
the ice cream industry. By using the strategies and tips in this guide, your franchise will be well on its
way to success.
We hope that this guide helps you as experienced franchise owners to have the thriving, profitable
business you’ve worked so hard for. If you ever have any questions, feel free to contact your Marble
Slab Creamery Development Manager or visit Marble Slab Creamery’s blog for more ideas on how to
make your franchise even better. We are always there to help you improve your franchise and ensure
it’s everything that you want out of your business.
If you’re new to the franchise industry and you’re researching how to make
your franchise a success from the start, contact Marble Slab Creamery today
to make your dream a reality. We can help you avoid common pitfalls of
new franchise owners and help you to realize the rewards of owning a
thriving ice cream franchise.
This information is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. It is for information purposes only. Currently, the following states regulate
the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia,
Washington, and Wisconsin. If you are a resident of or want to locate a franchise in one of these states, we will not offer you a franchise unless and until we have complied with
applicable pre-sale registration and disclosure requirements in your state. Franchise offerings are made by Franchise Disclosure Document only.
1346 Oakbrook Drive, Suite 170, Norcross, GA 30093
770.514.4500 | 800.524.6444
[email protected]